@marioshamb
- good to hear, you like Merlin3 - if satisfied with your installation, make a backup with dFlash
(Menu/Settings/Backup&Flash (or similar - don´t know english expression)) GREEN button.Backup usually gets stored to /media/hdd/backup folder on harddrive if you don´t select a different folder. You can ftp your backup to pc from there. If necessary, you can restore your backup either with dFlash (no pc needed) or with webbroser/webIf.
So you can e.g. try a new plugin and if not satisfied, you just only restore your backup and your box runs again as it did before.
I tried some firmwares up to now. Merlin has become my favourite. It´s easy and it comes with lots of useful functions/plugins by default.
You can install Merlin3 without HBBTV/webbrowser, if you don´t need, but you can install both as plugins, if you like. You can install Merlin3 without unnecessary languages - to keep firmware slim.
Merlin EPG center allows you to organize your recordings in subfolders and play them from there (ideal for series).
If you have two dreamboxes you can share between both using partnerbox plugin.
Merlin3 is very stable and for security reasons, dFlash plugin is inside by default.
Nice additional Merlin plugins available, too (AMS, VideoDB, etc.).
Comfortable functions (e.g. copy tv-stations to different bouquets/ mark videos as seen,unseen and more). Many little details that make life easier.
But of course there are other good firmwares, too. What you prefer depends on what you want to do with your box.
A combination of CVS firmware + GP3 (e.g. NTFS support, lots of own tools inside) plugin is nice. Or OoZooN firmware with userscript for cams and some drivers/packages that are not in all firmwares.
I´d always first recommend one of these three, (Merlin/CVS+GP3/OoZooN) because the developers of these teams are in very close contact - knowing/helping each other and CVS is original firmware from DMM - manufacturer of dreambox - so much first hand insider knowledge at early stages of oe.2 development/improvements
.
@Bambike
Newnigma for sure not bad, too. I just only don´t use it because it´s not allowed to mention it on those boards (DMM/IHAD/Merlin/OoZooN) where all the most important developers answer/discuss questions.
EDIT: @antrabe
Sorry to say - no real experience of my own with usb dtt - never had 800se/500hd box and with 8000 not really necessary. DMM never officially supported usb dtt and I don´t think that on Merlin they developed any further. (At least I didn´t read anything positive about it.)
Some drivers from community projects do exist, but seem to be working not too stable.
In some cases people can get their stick to work (e.g. on Merlin/Newnigma)- but not always stable or sometimes with side-effects like sattuner disabled when usb dtt was working
...
I remember, question was discussed on DMM board (if I´m not mistaken) without result.